BIRMINGHAM travellers were today hit with news of a massive fare increase on the rails - as services were branded among the worst in the country.

Passengers on Central Trains face increases of up to an inflation-busting 6.4 per cent from January - the second highest rise in the country.

It comes as double whammy just a day after Travel West Midlands, Birmingham's biggest bus operator, announced ticket prices will be going up eight per cent from the New Year.

Beleaguered passengers on Birmingham's rail network already endure some of the worst services in the country. Earlier this month it was revealed Central Trains has paid #47.5 million over the last five years in fines for lateness.

This makes it the worst offending train company in the country.

On the buses the National Audit Office and Audit Commission today revealed that bus and tram passenger numbers have actually fallen by almost ten per cent in the region over five years. The fall in the West Midlands was the second highest in the country.

The news comes shortly after Transport Secretary Alistair Darling gave the green light for the seven West Midlands local authorities, including Birmingham, to draw up plans for congestion charging.

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry spokesman John Lamb said: "It seems rather surprising that this could happen at a time when we need to encourage people to get into public transport.

Central Trains will put its unregulated fares - those for standard open and return tickets - up by 6.4 per cent.

Central's regulated fares, which are fixed by Government at the rate of inflation plus one per cent, and which cover season tickets and saver tickets, will go up 3.9 per cent from January 2.

Phil Davis, chairman of the West Midland Transport Users' Forum, said: "While there has been some improvement in Central's performance, there is still a great deal of concern about overcrowding, particularly on commuter routes, and passengers don't feel they are getting value for money.

"People want to use the railways, but while they are willing to pay for rail fares they are not willing to pay through the nose for a service that does not deliver."

A Central Trains spokesman said: "It sounds like quite a lot but when you consider that most of the fares we issue cost an average of #4.60, the actual amount in pence is not an awful lot," he said.

"What we've seen in the last few years is improved performance and an increase in reliability."